Abstract: The William Alexander Carter papers, 1837-1975 (bulk 1860-1869) contains Carter's business and personal papers as a sutler
at Fort Bridger, Utah Territory. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence, mainly to Carter, along with legal
papers, financial records, and items relating to Carter and to his family. The papers give a detailed view of a busy period
during the history of Fort Bridger as a center of regional business and government, and likewise reflect the business, political,
and personal aspects of Carter's career during an active and successful period. Carter's business involved people from all
over the United States, but regional centers like Salt Lake City and St. Louis are particularly well represented, as is New
York City.

Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English.

Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information
on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Information for Researchers

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the
Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94720186000. Consent is given on behalf
of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright
owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. See:
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html .

Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research
and educational purposes.

Views relating to Fort Bridger, Wyoming and the family of William Alexander Carter, BANC PIC 1905.07978-.07995--PIC and BANC
PIC 1905.13063-.13064--PIC.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Carter, William Alexander, 1820-1881--Archives

Carter, William Alexander, 1820-1881--Pictorial works

Carter, James Van Allen, 1838-1896

Bridger, Jim, 1804-1881--Pictorial works

Auerbach, Herbert S. (Herbert Samuel), 1882-1945

United States Army

Frontier and pioneer life--Utah

Sutlers--West (U.S.)

Judges--Wyoming

Fur traders--West (U.S.)

Military supplies

Mines and mineral resources--Wyoming

Mines and mineral resources--Utah

Indians of North America--Wyoming

Real property--Wyoming--Uinta County

Land tenure--Wyoming--Uinta County

Seminole War, 2nd, 1835-1842

Fort Bridger (Wyo.)--History

Fort Bridger (Wyo.)--Pictorial works

United States--Politics and government--1849-1877

Wyoming--History--19th century

Utah--History--19th century

Wyoming--Politics and government

West (U.S.)--Commerce

Uinta County (Wyo.)--History--19th century

Business records

Contracts

Receipts

Notes

Photographs

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

The William Alexander Carter Papers, 1837-1975 (bulk 1860-1869) were purchased by
The Bancroft Library from Ken Lopez on January 7, 1993.

Accruals

No additions are expected.

System of Arrangement

Arranged to the folder level.

Processing Information

Processed by Charis Anne Baz Takaro and Lisa de Larios in October 1998.

Biography

William A. Carter of Virginia began his army service in the Seminole War and became a sutler or purveyor after his discharge.
Later, as a Missouri settler and an 1850 overland emigrant to California, Carter came to Fort Bridger with Albert Johnston's
Utah Expedition in 1857 and spent the rest of his life there as a sutler and post trader. In addition to his business provisioning
emigrants traveling overland, Carter was active in mining, lumbering, and ranching. He was his own bookkeeper, a custodian
of government funds, and served in a number of public offices, including those of probate judge, justice of the peace, and
notary public. He was known as a friend of the Shoshone and Ute Indians. Carter unsuccessfully solicited an appointment as
Wyoming Territory's first governor, and was a public relations man for Fort Bridger and the area, giving enthusiastic accounts
during his regular trips to Virginia and Washington D.C. After his death in 1881 until 1890, his widow, Mary E. Carter, and
their children carried on business at Fort Bridger.

Fort Bridger was a trading post in Utah Territory at Black's Fork on the Green River, in what is now Uinta County, Wyoming.
It was established by mountain man, Jim Bridger, with Louis Vasquez, as an emigrant supply stop on the Oregon Trail in 1843,
and was purchased by the Mormons in 1853. Burned during the Mormon conflicts in 1857, the fort was rebuilt in 1858 for use
by the army and was run by Carter. Although the army leased the fort from Bridger, both Bridger and Brigham Young believed
they owned the fort. Fort Bridger was an important supply station for emigrants traveling overland, and served as one of the
main hubs of westward expansion used by mountain men, Indians, emigrants, Mormon pioneers, the U.S. Army, and the Pony Express.
As Carter's residence, it also served as a social, cultural, and political center in the region, drawing guests from the East
and those with business in the area. Carter's family continued to live at the fort until 1928, when it was sold to the Wyoming
Historical Landmark Commission for preservation. Today Fort Bridger is a Wyoming State Park.

Scope and Content of Collection

The William Alexander Carter papers, 1837-1975 (bulk 1860s) contains Carter's business and personal papers as a sutler at
Fort Bridger, Utah Territory. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence, mainly to Carter, along with legal papers,
financial records, and items relating to Carter and to his family. The papers give a detailed view of a busy period during
the history of Fort Bridger as a center of regional business and government, and likewise reflect the business, political,
and personal aspects of Carter's career during an active and successful period. Carter's business involved people from all
over the United States, but regional centers like Salt Lake City and St. Louis are particularly well represented, as is New
York City.

Correspondence includes letters to Carter from high-level U.S. government and army officials, army personnel at regional forts,
merchants, financial institutions and others involved in business affairs in the Rocky Mountains and in Utah Territory, along
with a small number of letters from Carter. Also includes letters to J. Van Allen Carter and other Carter family members.
Financial records of daily business operations at Fort Bridger reflect its role as a trading post and government supplier,
while legal records relate to the Fort Bridger land ownership controversy between Jim Bridger, Brigham Young, and the U.S.
government. Includes Carter's governmental appointments, contracts for army supplies between Carter and the government or
other individuals, material relating to mining and petroleum claims and real estate, as well as documents generated by Carter
as Probate Judge and by David A. Burr as Justice of the Peace at Fort Bridger. Writings by and about Carter include his brief
notes on the Seminole War and on Indian activity at Fort Bridger, a "diary" probably compiled from letters he wrote to his
wife, and other miscellaneous items.

Also included with the collection are the research materials gathered by Herbert Auerbach for a book or article on Fort Bridger.
These include Auerbach's notes, documents copied from various institutions and publications, reminiscences collected about
Jim Bridger, Louis Vasquez, William Alexander Carter, mountain men and trappers, and life at Fort Bridger, as well as photographs
of Jim Bridger, William A. Carter, and the Fort Bridger area.

Container List

Series 1
Correspondence1859-1886, undated

Physical Description:
Boxes 1-3; Box 4, folders 1-17

Arrangement

Divided into three sub-series: Outgoing, Incoming, and Letters neither to nor from Carter.

Scope and Content Note

Consists of letters to Carter; the very few that are from Carter appear to be duplicates copied by him or by a clerk. Some
of the letters to Carter deal with financial, business or legal matters also reflected in other series. Letters neither to
nor from Carter are few; these are mainly to James Van Allen Carter, with few to Richard Carter and miscellaneous other individuals.
Correspondence is housed one letter in each folder.

Subseries 1.1
Outgoing1860-1879, undated

Physical Description:
Box 1, folders 1-37

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content Note

Contains letters written by William Alexander Carter.

Box 1, Folder 1

Carter, Richard H.1860 July 11

Box 1, Folder 2

Edwin McMasters, 1814-18691862 June 28

Box 1, Folder 3

Filley, O.D.1862 June 29

Box 1, Folder 4

Eaton, J. E., Major1862 July 8

Box 1, Folder 5

Morgan, C. H., Lieutenant1862 Oct. 7

Box 1, Folder 6

Rice, J. S.1863 Jan. 26

Box 1, Folder 7-8

Stanton, Edwin McMasters, 1814-18691864 March 20-April 4

Box 1, Folder 9

Hamilton, Richard H.1864 Oct. 20

Box 1, Folder 10

Leavitt, D. B.1864 Nov. 1

Box 1, Folder 11-16

Scatt, L. B.1864 Nov. 23 -1865 Jan. 12

Box 1, Folder 17

Connor, P. E. (Patrick Edward), 1820-18911865 Jan. 23

Box 1, Folder 18

Scatt, L. B.1865 Jan. 28

Box 1, Folder 19

Randall, Alexander William1865 March 13

Box 1, Folder 20

Creighton, Edward1865 May 11

Box 1, Folder 21-22

Sharp, John1865 June 19 -26

Box 1, Folder 23

Stenhouse, T. B. H. (Thomas Brown Holmes),1865 Sept. 2

Box 1, Folder 24

Carter, Mary E.1866 March 23

Box 1, Folder 25

Hamilton, Richard H.1866 April 13

Box 1, Folder 26

Carter, Mary E.1866 May 22

Box 1, Folder 27

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-18911867 March 6

Box 1, Folder 28

Stanton, Edwin McMasters, 1814-18691867 March 12

Box 1, Folder 29

Grassee, J. M.1867 May 4

Box 1, Folder 30

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-18751868 July 28

Box 1, Folder 31

Paymaster General1869 April 4

Scope and Content Note

By James Van Allen Carter, 1838-1896

Box 1, Folder 32

Jacobs, Edward C.1871 Jan. 23

Box 1, Folder 33

Palmer, J. W., General1875 May 9

Box 1, Folder 34

Clark, S. H. H.1877 July 15

Box 1, Folder 35

Davis, O. F.1879 Sept. 22

Box 1, Folder 36

Smith, John E., General1879 Oct. 29

Box 1, Folder 37

Unidentified letterundated

Subseries 1.2
Incoming1859-1886, undated

Physical Description:
Box 1, folders 38-123; Boxes 2-3

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically.

Scope and Content Note

Contains incoming letters to William Alexander Carter from various individuals and companies.

Contains letters to other Carter family members as well as others involved with Fort Bridger.

Letters to James Van Allen Carter1838-1896

Box 4, Folder 1

A. Kuhn & Company1875 June 28

Box 4, Folder 2

Bradford, Brother & Co. 1874 Nov. 19

Box 4, Folder 3

Crichton, J. J.1871 Feb. 8

Box 4, Folder 4

Edy, Augustus1868 Nov. 5

Box 4, Folder 5

Forshey, Madison T.1877 March 12

Box 4, Folder 6

O'Tool, John1868 March 27

Box 4, Folder 7

Smith, Peterundated

Box 4, Folder 8

Summers, William1877 March 10

Box 4, Folder 9

Wright, S. H.1875 June 24

Letters to Richard H. Carter

Box 4, Folder 10

Brookie, A. V.1875 Jan. 10

Box 4, Folder 11

D. & H. Siegel1867 Jan. 1

Letters to John Sharp

Box 4, Folder 12

James Smith & Co.1864 Oct. 30

Box 4, Folder 13

Kintzing, Charles S.1865 Nov. 8

Box 4, Folder 14

Purple, Edwin R. (Edwin Ruthven), 1831-18791864 Aug. 7

Box 4, Folder 15

Catlin, Dick1865 Sept. 27

Scope and Content Note

To Richard H. Hamilton

Box 4, Folder 16

Craig, James1862 Aug. 3

Scope and Content Note

To General Ben Loan

Box 4, Folder 17

Simpson, J. H. (James Hervey), 1813-18831866 Jan. 28

Scope and Content Note

To T. C. Duvant

Series 2
Administrative Records1857-1888, undated

Physical Description:
Box 4, folders 18-76; Oversize Folder 1 A

Arrangement

Divided into two sub-series: Financial Records and Legal Records.

Scope and Content Note

Contains the business records of Carter's business at Fort Bridger, legal matters concerning Fort Bridger, as well as records
of Carter's other roles at Fort Bridger.

Subseries 2.1
Financial Records1858-1888, undated

Physical Description:
Box 4, folders 18-66; Oversize folder 1A

Arrangement

Arranged hierarchically and then alphabetically where appropriate.

Scope and Content Note

Contains bills, account summaries, and invoices or other statements from Carter's suppliers, financial institutions and others
with whom he did business, as well as inventories of goods at Fort Bridger, advertisements, and instructions for items possibly
purchased by Carter.

Box 4, Folder 18

Inventories of goods at Fort Bridger1858, 1862, 1868, undated

Box 4, Folder 19

Advertisements and instructions for goods1862-1864, undated

Bills, receipts, etc.

Box 4, Folder 20

Ashton & Tait1864, 1866

Box 4, Folder 21

Benedict, Hall & Co.1868, 1877

Box 4, Folder 22

Blow, Peter E.1862

Box 4, Folder 23

Bryan & Hardcastle1862-1863

Box 4, Folder 24

Charles S. Kintzing & Co.1864-1867

Oversize Drawer A, Folder 1

Charles S. Kintzing & Co.1864-1867

Box 4, Folder 25

Eppler, Edward B.1863

Box 4, Folder 26

Excelsior Manufacturing Co.1862, 1868

Box 4, Folder 27

Filley, Chauncey I.1861-1862

Oversize Drawer A, Folder 1

Filley, Chauncey I.1861-1862

Box 4, Folder 28

Gerard B. Allen & Co.1868

Box 4, Folder 29

Gill & Brother1862, 1864

Box 4, Folder 30

Gray & Crawford1860

Box 4, Folder 31

Grimsley & Co.1862, 1864

Box 4, Folder 32

H. & R. B. Whittemore & Co.1859-1868

Box 4, Folder 33

Helfenstein, Gore & Co. 1859-1860

Box 4, Folder 34

Howard, Sanger & Co. 1868

Box 4, Folder 35

Irwin Jackman & Co.1860

Box 4, Folder 36

J. Green & Co.1862, 1866, 1867

Box 4, Folder 37

John V. Farwell & Co.1869

Box 4, Folder 38

L. Cohn & Co. 1868, undated

Box 4, Folder 39

Leavitt, D. B.1863-1865

Box 4, Folder 40

Livingston, Bell & Co.1859-1861

Box 4, Folder 41

Missouri River Packet Line1864

Box 4, Folder 42

Robert Campbell & Co.1862-1868

Box 4, Folder 43

Robertson, John1863-1878

Scope and Content Note

a.k.a. "Uncle" Jack Robinson

Box 4, Folder 44

Scarrit, Curtis & Mason1868

Box 4, Folder 45

Simeon Leland & Co.1864

Box 4, Folder 46

Stringer, Allen & Co.1862, 1866

Box 4, Folder 47

Union Pacific Railroad Company1875

Box 4, Folder 48

William L. Ewing & Co.1868

Box 4, Folder 49

William Jennings & Co.1864, 1866, 1868

Oversize Drawer A, Folder 1

William Jennings & Co.1864, 1866, 1868

Box 4, Folder 50

Wolff & Hoppe 1861-1862

Box 4, Folder 51

Woolworth & Barton1867, undated

Box 4, Folder 52-65

Miscellaneous1858-1877, 1888

Oversize Drawer A, Folder 1

Miscellaneous1858-1877, 1888

Box 4, Folder 66

Miscellaneous envelopes1866, undated

Subseries 2.2
Legal Records1857-1878, undated

Physical Description:
Box 4, folders 67-76

Arrangement

Arranged hierarchically.

Scope and Content Note

Contains Carter's copies and original documents relating to the Fort Bridger ownership controversy, including items relating
to or by Carter, Silas Reed, Randolph Barnes Marcy, and Jim Bridger. Also includes Carter's government appointments, contracts,
mining and petroleum claims, real estate and miscellaneous legal or official documents, and drafts or copies of congressional
acts, along with legal papers from Carter's role as Probate Judge and David A. Burr, Justice of the Peace, at Fort Bridger.

Documents generated by William Alexander Carter as Probate Judge1860-1861, 1867-1870

Box 4, Folder 76

Documents generated by David A. Burr as Justice of the Peace at Fort Bridger1858

Series 3
Writings by and about Carter1837-1924, undated

Physical Description:
Box 5, folders 1-6

Arrangement

Arranged hierarchically.

Scope and Content Note

Includes two manuscript notes regarding the Seminole War (1837) and Indian activity at Fort Bridger (1863), a diary (accompanied
by remarks from one of Carter's children), and the
True Story of Fort Bridger by Lulie Carter Groshon.

Carter, William A.

Box 5, Folder 1

Notes regarding Seminole War and Indian activity at Fort Bridger1837, 1863

Box 5, Folder 2-5

"Diary", possibly compiled from letters to his wife with remarks by one of his children1857-1859, undated

Box 5, Folder 6

"The True Story of Fort Bridger" Groshon, Lulie Cartercirca 1924

Series 4
Herbert Auerbach's Research Material1865-1926, undated

Physical Description:
Box 5, folders 7-45; Oversize Folder 2 A

Arrangement

Arranged hierarchically.

Scope and Content Note

Contains research material for an unpublished(?) book or article about Fort Bridger functions as a subject file on topics
and personalities around Fort Bridger, and includes his own notes as well as clippings and other information sources. Although
mostly undated, the files relate to Jim Bridger, Fort Bridger, Fort Supply, Camp Floyd, various individuals, including William
A. Carter and Louis Vasquez, mountain men, trappers and traders, and related topics. Also includes photographs of William
A. Carter, Jim Bridger, and Fort Bridger.